Here we go again with the fifth round of polls with the Ein bracket. Both polls are open this time around, so hoping for some good votes here.

BER1P1

Magia (Puella Magi Madoka Magica ED)

More Kalafina, but this one has the music talking for it more with a rocking background behind the trio. It’s not one of their best, though. That being said, I wouldn’t be surprised if being tied to Madoka is more than enough for the song though.

Hito Toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru (Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei OP 1)

This is something out of left field, fitting well in line with the show itself, as a rocking “duet” between Kenji Ootsuki and members of the show’s cast slide back and forth. It comes off a little “harder” than a typical song that goes with anime, mostly with Ootsuki’s gravelly voice. And it definitely leaves an impression.

Which Do I Want to Win: Hito Toshite Jiku ga BureteiruWhich Do I Think Will Win: MagiaWhy? Recency bias, familiarity and song style. Both in terms of the song itself, and the show’s their attached too. More accessible also tends to win regardless, and in this case, Kalafina might be.

BER1P2

Waltz (Honey and Clover ED 1)

Ah, Suneohair. 🙂 Their alternative rock style worked well in setting the mood of its show, and the song is also pleasing to the ear. It’s a song that I feel should disappear from your mind after listening to it, but the memories come rushing back the next time you hear it.

Karma (Phantom ~Requiem for the Phantom~ OP 1)

This totally sounds like the type of “dark atmospheric” song that people would like because it gives them “cool” points. It definitely sets a nice mood, especially as KOKIA doesn’t sing much here, but vocalizes often. And her voice definitely fits the feel of the song well.

Which Do I Want to Win: WaltzWhich Do I Think Will Win: KarmaWhy?Because people think they are cool. Hopefully I’m proven wrong here.

BER1P3

Kuusou Rumba (Zoku Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei OP 1)

Randomization sucks sometimes, having both of these styled openings in the same bracket here. This one is easier to get to than “Hito Toshite Jiku ga Bureteiru”, with the same elements above, but more melodic. And there is a little rumba in there. Somewhere.

Cutey Honey (Cutey Honey OP)

And this is the old school Cutey Honey opening theme. This is not a bad song, as Kumi Koda’s update it of it was pretty awesome, but this is too old school for a lot of people here.

Which Do I Want to Win: Kuusou RumbaWhich Do I Think Will Win: Kuusou RumbaWhy? Recency bias. Cutey Honey‘s theme sounds way too dated.

BER1P4

Orange (Toradora! ED 2)

“Vanilla Salt” this is not. And this is why I can’t really support this generic poppy song in good conscience.

Uso (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood ED 1)

This is generic in another direction, but it’s rock-like tone is something more in tune to what is palatable to my ears.

Which Do I Want to Win: UsoWhich Do I Think Will Win: OrangeWhy? Song Style. Popularity? Generic girls > Generic guy? I have no clue. I don’t agree with it though. And what’s palatable to my ears is often not to others. 😛

BER1P5

Ride on Shooting Star (FLCL ED)

Probably the closest song towards grunge rock in this entire tournament. The Pillows just jam here with no problem at all.

Fate (Break Blade OP)

Some more KOKIA with full vocals this time. This more “ethnic European” style of music is what fits KOKIA’s voice best. At the same time, I feel like this song should do more than it does, especially since it’s trying hard to set an “epic” tone. At the same time, it should also pull back with other things to not sound too pretentious. So yeah.

Which Do I Want to Win: Ride on Shooting StarWhich Do I Think Will Win: Ride on Shooting StarWhy? Simplicity. And nostalgia. Everyone’s heard of FLCL compared to Break Blade. And while everyone’s heard “Ride on Shooting Star”, it’s hard to get tired of the song since it’s so simple. “Fate”‘s too overwrought for me.

BER1P6

*~Asterisk (BLEACH OP 1)

This is the song that really started it all for BLEACH, and I feel like it’s a song that everyone’s heard at some point or another even if they haven’t watched the show. Whether they like the rap-rock style is something else entirely.

Naisho no Hanashi – (Nisemonogatari ED)

(this is a pretty good cover, by the way)

I really feel like this battle should come down to which song can come off as less annoying. Unfortunately, I think this will come down to which song is stuck in people’s heads. And this has the advantage of being recent enough to stick in people’s minds. That being said…

Which Do I Want to Win: *~AsteriskWhich Do I Think Will Win: *~AsteriskWhy? Song style. “Naisho no Hanashi” is a little more off the beaten path with how the strong is constructed (The chants don’t help either), while “*~Asterisk” flows nicely, although the rap-rock style can turn off others.

BLOODY STREAM (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure OP 2)

This song is funky. In a good, old-school sort of way. But I think it can be a little too funky, especially when the chorus comes into play. I like that it tries something different here, and it grooves enough that even people who aren’t fans of music like this can get into it.

Kimi wo Nosete (Castle in the Sky ED)

With a ticking clock in the background, and strings that paint an interesting melody until the 80s smacks you in the face, this song tries to put the main musical theme from the soundtrack in a more accessible role. It can get a little repetitive though.

Which Do I Want to Win: Push.Which Do I Think Will Win: BLOODY STREAMWhy? Recency bias. Though I think that both of these works are new songs to most voters listening. “Kimi wo Nosete” might be a little too dated for people to feel it.

BER1P8

DAYS (Eureka Seven OP 1)

For me, this kick’s “Jibun woo”‘s ass any day of the week. It’s a nice groovy piece of work. And it does convey dancing in the sky (both with and without drugs) which was a main draw of the series for me. Though the rap breakdown can be a turn off here. That being said, groove on, FLOW. Groove on.

JAP (Sengoku Basara OP)

This is not a bad Abingdon Boys School song. At the same time, it’s a rocking style that I’ve heard before from the group, and one that I know can be done better.

This bracket was hard to vote for, as there weren’t a lot of songs that really made me want to root for them here. But that’s how the dice rolls sometimes. Vote for polls 1-4 and 5-8 here. I’m hoping Fate can show me something interesting now.

Like this:

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I feel generally indifferent about this bracket. I wonder how random some of these things are…feels not so random.

I’m glad at least one Pillows song will make it to the next round.
And I’m glad you lol called Kokia “overwrought.” Because she actually isn’t but every one of her song in this tournament is! The thing is, none of the Kokia songs I like were in this tournament. Like this one.

It is a dumb complaint but given the selection we have, I think it’s easy to see there is an “epic” bias. And when you have a lot of these similar songs back to back their artifice comes out much clearer. I don’t think I would use the term to describe many of these songs if not for the fact that I had to keep on listening to them for the tournament, and in that context it’s kind of too much.

But it’s also a personal taste thing. I don’t listen to most of these “overwrought” songs probably because, on some level, I can’t take these “epic” feelings seriously.

It definitely is a personal taste kind of thing. Epic is not a bad thing, and I enjoy songs like that. But when the overall feel of the song sounds like it’s going through the motions (i.e., you know you’ve heard similar elements in other songs, and done much better), it’s hard to get into it. It just feels that way sometimes, and “Fate” is a example of that too me. For me, there are better things that KOKIA’s voice can be used on, for example. 😛